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Ed.D. in PK-12 Educational Leadership

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The mission of the TCU Educational Leadership doctoral program is to develop leaders who make a difference for the common good. The program serves professionals from the PK-12 educational context who want to develop the breadth of knowledge and skills needed to succeed in advanced leadership roles within the PK-12 area as well as professionals who work externally to PK-12 but in education-related endeavors (business/corporate training, policy organizations, or nongovernmental organizations). The program weaves several emphases throughout coursework, supporting the student to:

  • Develop and practice reflective, ethical, and justice-oriented leadership
  • Collaborate with persons from diverse backgrounds, roles, and perspectives in the service of systemic improvements toward excellence and equity
  • Communicate effectively via multiple modes (oral, written, via technology)
  • Analyze, define, and respond to complex problems
  • Anticipate and respond to dynamic environments

An applicant must have a master's degree in education or related field. Applicants must present a strong academic record (GPA of 3.0 or higher in either the last 60 hours of college credit or undergraduate GPA). Applicants to the EDLE Ed.D. must submit:

  • Official transcripts of all prior collegiate work (e-transcripts may be sent to tcugradstudies@tcu.edu)
  • A statement explaining the applicant's interest in earning the Ed.D. and how the applicant sees the Ed.D. fitting with personal and professional goals
  • Equity statement
  • Current resume
  • Complete either a video or in-person interview
  • Online Criminal Background Check

Learn more by visiting the TCU Online Catalog.

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership is a 54-hour degree aimed at enabling leaders in PK-12 contexts to successfully engage in a range of professional endeavors. Students are required to take a suitable number and variety of graduate courses and field-based experiences to prepare for the completion of the capstone project or dissertation-in-practice.

The Ed.D. encompasses a minimum of 54 hours of core courses, fieldwork, and directed capstone or dissertation-in-practice, though additional courses may be needed if prerequisites have not been met or if a student requires more than 15 credit hours to complete the capstone or dissertation-in-practice.  A detailed program of study is outlined in the TCU Online Catalog.

Download program of study (PDF)

 EDLE Ed.D. (PK-12) Cohorts and beyond (54 hours)

Semester

PK-12 Cohort
Summer 1
6 hrs
  1. EDAD 70003 - Foundational Readings
  2. EDAD 70033 - Ethics & Equity-Oriented Leadership
Fall 1 
6 hrs
  1. EDLE 70053 - Cultural Foundations in Educational Leadership
  2. EDUC 70953 - Research in Education
Spring 1 
6 hrs
  1. EDHE 70153 - Org. Behavior & Change
  2. EDUC 70983 - Intro to Quant
    *Students complete committee request/information forms for capstone/dissertation matching (no requests accepted prior to this process).
Summer 2
6 hrs
  1. EDAD 70013- Legal & Social Environment of Education
  2. EDUC 70923 Intro to Applied Qualitative Methods OR EDUC 70823 Inquiry Seminar: Mixed Methods
Fall 2
6 hrs
  1. EDLE 70043- School & Community Contexts
  2. EDAD 70073- Capstone/Dissertation Seminar (Cap A) [Develop RQs, Purpose statement, Lit Review]
Spring 2
6 hrs
  1. EDAD 70073- Capstone/Dissertation Seminar (Cap B) [Methodology chapter, draft IRB forms]
  2. EDAD 70043- Educational Policy & School Finance
    [with chair: schedule/practice/complete proposal, submit IRB/obtain permissions]
Summer 3 
6 hrs
  1. 3 hours of Capstone/Dissertation: EDAD 90770 (capstone) OR EDC 90990 (with chair) [Data collection/analysis/full draft]
  2. EDLE 70083- Issues & Trends in Superintendency
Fall 3
6 hrs
  1. 3 hours of Capstone/Dissertation: EDAD 90770 (capstone) OR EDUC 90990 (with chair) [Data collection/analysis/full draft]
  2. EDLE 90093- Supt. Practicum or EDAD 70200- Internship OR EDLE 60093 Principal Practicum (A) 3. 
Spring 3
6 hrs
  1. EDLE 90093 - Supt. Practicum or EDAD 70200 - Internship OR EDLE 60093 Principal Practicum (B)
  2. 3 hours of Capstone/Dissertation: EDAD 90770 (capstone) OR EDUC 90990 (with chair)

 In addition to this program, students seeking principal certification must complete three courses (as non-degree-seeking students) prior to enrollment with the Ed.D. cohort:

  • EDLE 60043 (Instructional Supervision A: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment)
  • EDLE 60053 (Instructional Supervision B: Supervision, Evaluation & Coaching)
  • EDLE 60083 (Data Use for Educational Leaders)

Students seeking principal certification must also complete T-TESS and AEL training at a Regional Service Center prior to TCU personnel releasing the student to sit for either of the principal certification exams (268 and PASL). 

Term Summer Fall Spring
 

2025-2026

Summer
June 6-8
June 20-22
July 11-13
July 25-27

Fall
August 23-24
September 13-14
October 4-5
November 1-2
December 6-7

Spring
January 17-18
February 7-8
March 7-8
April 11-12
May 2-3

2026-2027

Summer
June 5-7
June 19-21
July 10-13
July 24-26

Fall
August 22-23
September 12-13
October 3-4
October 31-November 1
December 5-6

Spring
January 23-24
February 13-14
March 6-7
April 3-4
May 1-2

2027-2028

Summer
June 4-6
June 18-20
July 9-11
July 23-25

Fall
August 21-23
September 11-12
October 2-3
November 13-14
December 4-5

Spring
January 22-23
February 12-13
March 8-9
April 1-2
May 6-7

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Program Coordinator

Miriam Ezzani, Ed.D.
Associate Professor
817-257-5410
m.d.ezzani@tcu.edu
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